Device for ironing clothes and other articles



Aug. 27, 1929. 'r. c. WOODMAN 1,725,841

DEVICE FOR IRONING CLOTHES AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed Sept. 14, 1925 d Woodman,

Thomas Cliffor Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE'...

THOMAS CLIFFORD WOODMAN, 0F TEDDINGTON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 CELANESE (JUR-PORATION OF AlVIElR-ICA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DEVICE FOR IRONING CLOTHES AND OTHER ARTICLES.

Application filed September 14, 1925, Serial No.

As is known, fabrics and garments are very frequently damaged in ironing by the application of the irons in too heated a condition and some fabrics which will only bear moderate temperatures are especially liable to be injured from this cause.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device whereby this disadvantage can be obviated or reduced to a mlnimum.

Shoes or shields of steel or other metal having a smooth ironing face for contact with the material are sometimes employed for clipping or otherwise attaching to the base of fiat irons and the like, to protect the material from the base of the iron itself, which is often soiled in heating but these devices although they may in some measure reduce the risk of damage by an overheated ironing face, do not adequately meet the difficulty referred to, especially in the case of delicate fabrics, or fabrics especially liable to injury from this cause.

Now according to the present invention I provide an ironing shoe or shield stamped up or otherwise formed in sheet metal or other suitable metal so as to present on its under or ironing face grooves, channels or open bottomed spaces distributed over its surface, and on its upper face to present recesses or depressions adapted to form air spaces between the shoe or shield and the bottom of the iron when it is attached thereto.

The grooves, channels or open bottomed spaces, all hereinafter in the claims included in the term channels, presented on the ironing face of the shoe or shield, by permitting of the passage or presence of air through or in them in use, act to moderate the temperature of the shoe or shield and prevent injury to the fabric or article by an over hot ironing face, and it will also be evident that steam rising from the usually damped fabrics or articles on the passage of the iron can pass into or through these grooves, channels' or open bottomed spaces and further assist the temperature moderating effect. Preferably these grooves, channels or spaces allow of free circulation and escape of the air through them. It will also be seen that the air spaces constituted between the shoe and the iron by the depressions or recesses 56,178, and in Great Britain December 9, 1924.

in. the upper face of the shoe or shield can also assist by preventing overheating of the shoe or shield by the iron.

Usually the shoe or shield will be stamped or pressed in sheet metal so that the elevation on its upper face, corresponding to or representing the back of the grooves, channels or spaces on the lower face contact with the under face of the iron and form between them the air spaces between the upper face of the shoe or shield and the under face of the iron. The grooves, channels or open bottomed air spaces are preferably arranged so as to divide up the ironing face of the shoe or shield into ironing surfaces of relatively small area. As one example the shoe or shield may be stamped up or formed so that its ironing face is divided up into small squares or areas of ironing surface by open ended grooves or channels crossing each other in a checker pattern, the elevations, formed on the upper or reverse face of the shoe by the backs of the grooves or channels constituting between them the air spaces between the upper face of the shoe or shield and the iron. But any other appropriate arrangement of the grooves, channels or spaces may be adopted.

The shield or shoe may be detachably secured to the iron in any known or suitable way.

The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, one form of ironing shield constructed in accordance with the invention, it being understood that I in no wise limit myself to the particular form or construction illustrated, which can be varied widely.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the shield as seen from above' Fig. 2 is a mid-sectional elevation of the shield clipped on to an iron.

Fig. 8 is an under plan of the shield.

The shield 1 is stamped on otherwise formed to present inter-secting open-ended grooves or channels 2 on its bottom or ironing face, the back of said channels or grooves forming ridges or elevations 3 on the upper face of the shield. The channels or grooves 2 divide the bottom face of the shoe into a number of relatively small ironing surfaces 4 and extend to the edges of the shield permitting free circulation and escape of air through the channels or grooves on the under face when the shield is in use. The ridges or elevations 3 contact with the under face 5 of the iron and thus form air spaces 6 between the upper face of the shield and the under face of the iron.

The shield is clipped to the iron by means of a spring clip 7 of wire hinged to the toe of the shield at 8 and the arms of which provided with finger grips 9 snap into retaining slots 10 in the back of the shield.

The shield may be made of any suitable metal as for example copper, sheet iron, and

' the like, the bottom or ironing face being preferably electroplated to prevent corrosion and choking of the grooves or channels.

If desired the air spaces on the upper face of the shoe or shield may be arranged or adapted to permit circulation and escape of air between the shoe and the iron, for example 7 by employing non intersecting grooves, channels or open bottomed spaces in the under face of the shield and extending to the edges.

WVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A metal ironing shoe presenting on its ironing face open-ended channels distributed over its surface, and on its upper face recesses adapted to form air spaces between the shoe and the bottom of the iron.

2. A sheet metal ironing shoe presenting on its ironing face open-ended channels distributed over its surface, the walls of said channels constituting elevations on the upper surface which contact with the under face of the iron, the recesses between the ele- Vations forming air spaces between the shoe and the bottom of the iron.

3. A sheet metal ironing shoe comprising on its ironing face a plurality of separate ironing surfaces, said surfaces being bordered by open-ended channels adapted to allow free circulation and escape of air through them, and the total area of the said channels being appreciably less than the total area of the separate ironing surfaces, and on its upper surface recesses adapted to form air spaces between the shoe and the bottom of the iron.

4. A sheet metal ironing shoe comprising on its ironing face a plurality of separate ironing surfaces, said surfaces being bordered by open-ended channels adapted to allow free circulation and escape of air through them, and the total area of the said channels being appreciably less than the total area of the separate ironing surfaces, the walls of said channels constituting elevations on the upper surface which contact with the under surface of the iron, and the recesses between the elevations forming air spaces between the shoe and the bottom of the iron.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

THOMAS CLIFFORD WOODMAN. 

